Lights On Plants

Title

Lights On Plants

Problem Scenario

This can be used to grow seedlings in space and other places without sun light.

Broad Question

Specific Question

How does Incandescent, Florescent,plant light bulbs and regular sunlight effect growth.

Hypothesis

The seedlings getting sunlight will grow the most, then the plant light seedlings will be next. From there incandescent will be next then last but not least the flourescent will be the least to grow.

Graph of Hypothesis

Variables

Independent Variable:

The Different Light Types

Dependent Variable:

Height Of The Plants and A Picture

Variables That Need To Be Controlled:

The Sunlight Plant

Vocabulary List That Needs Explanation

Incandescent: These bulbs produce light when a electric current runs through a filament which causes it to glow.
Fluorescent: These bulbs produce light when an electric arc passes between cathodes to excite mercury and other gases producing radiant energy, which is then converted to visible light by a phosphor coating.

Photosynthesis: is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert the light energy captured from the sun into chemical energy that can be used to fuel the organism's activities.
Grow light or plant light: is an artificial light source, generally an electric light, designed to stimulate plant growth by emitting an electromagnetic spectrum appropriate for photosynthesis.
Fluorescent lamp or fluorescent tube: is a gas-discharge lamp that uses electricity to excite mercury vapor.

---

---

---

General Plan

Potential Problems And Solutions

Plants Die, Plant Mutiple Plants

Safety Or Environmental Concerns

Lights get to hot and cause a fire.
Cut myself using a knife.

Experimental Design

What is your experimental unit?

Height in Centimeters

Number Of Trials:

1

Number Of Subjects In Each trial:

Three seedlings each for the three types of plants will be grown.

Number of Observations:

1 for each plant.

When data will be collected

I will observe daily.

Where will data be collected?:

An exel at my house.

Resources and Budget Table

Item	Number needed	Where I will get this	Cost
Large Boxes	3	Home
Lights	3 different types	Home Depot
Seeds	12	Home Depot
Burpee Seed Starters	4	Home Depot
Timer	1	Home Depot
Measuring cup	1	Home

Detailed Procedure

1. Gather Materials above.
2. Follow directions on the Burpee Seed Starters.
3. Plant seeds about 2 cm deep in each soil thing.
4. Label all seeds.
5. Place Seed Starters in seperate boxes.
6. Keep boxes open and rig a stand to hang lights just above boxes.
7. Set timer to start at 7:00 AM and stop at 6:00 PM
8. Plug in lights.
9. Record daily in cm and enter in Excel

Diagram

Photo List

Time Line

Start Growing Plants Feb 3 AT MY HOUSE,Record Daily,take pics once and awhile, End day march 10

---

Data Table

	Sunflower	Tomato	Basil
Sunlight	2	15.7	3
Fluorescent	1.2	12	2.7
Incandescent	0	0	0
Plantlight	0	0	0

---

---

---

---

Data Analysis

All Raw

Graphs

Photos

Results

Conclusion

In this experiment I placed three different types of seeds under three artificial lights. I hypothesized that the seedlings getting sunlight will grow the most then the plant light seedlings will grow the second best. Thirdly the Incandescent plants will be third then in last place would be Fluorescent. Contradicting my hypothesis the seedlings under nether the fluorescent light fixture grew substantially, but not enough to beat the good old sunlight. Through out the entire experiment the plant light and incandescent seedlings id not grow at all. I believe it was due to the extreme heat of the two bulbs.

Discussion

Benefit to Community and/or Science

Background Research

Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert the light energy captured from the sun into chemical energy that can be used to fuel the organism's activities.

One of the weaknesses of the use of artificial illumination in growing plants has been the high heat generated by incandescent lights. With the coming of the fluorescents, much of this handicap has been removed. Fluorescent tubes are capable of giving off more light with less heat.

In forcing bulbs, I find that excellent pot plants can be grown with only fluorescent tubes. However, if the flowers are to be used for cutting, the addition of a 60-watt incandescent bulb to the two tubes seems to produce a plant lasting longer in water.
A light bulb converts electricity to photons. But a photon is a photon – and light is light – whether it comes from the sun or a flashlight.
Researchers can successfully grow plants using only artificial light in growth chambers. But sunlight is best for most plants. It’s generally more intense than artificial light, and it’s pretty equally distributed among the different wavelengths that earthly plants have evolved to like best.

References

http://primexgardencenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/caresheets_ArtificialLight.pdf
earthsky.org/human-world/artificial-light-plant-growth
www.zone10.com/growing-plants-under-artificial-light.html
www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/webdoc1380

Abstract

Growing Plants Under Artificial Light

Sun is a necessity all around the world. In many months in the North and South Pole sun is not even available. Also with the threat of different life threatening disasters the human race may need to live under ground. Therefore I did my science project on the effects of artificial lights on plants.


In my experiment I used Incandescent, Fluorescent and a Plant Light as the artificial lights and Sun Light as a control. I planted Basil, Sunflower and Tomato seeds in Burpee Seed Starters and water them the right amount and placed them under neath the labeled lights. I planted three seeds of each type in each container under neath each light. As for hanging the lights, I used a very large clap and attached two of them to a table. From there I strung a very tight rope between the claps and hung ropes, the same length from the tight rope. I attached the lights on the ropes. I used a timer to make sure all of lights turned off on the same time everyday. Day after day i took pictures and measure the height of each plant in centimeters.
I am sure many scientists have come across this problem before and came up with the same answer I had. But in my science experiment the artificial lights actually worked as a light source to the plants. The plant group that grew the most was Sun Light, then came Fluorescent close behind. Both Incandescent and the Plant Light didn't grow. I believe it was due to the intensity of heat applied from the bulbs.